Vehicle heater



Nov. 18, 1930. G. N. THOMAS 1,782,325

` VEHICLE HEATER Filed April 24, 1929 z sheets-sheet Geoff@ N 7%0772@ INVENTOR ATTORNEY Nov. 18, 1930. G. N. THOMAS VEHICLE HEATER Filed April 24, 1929 f2 sheets-sheet 2 ea'ge N Mamas,

v ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 18, 1930 PATENT OFFICE GEORGE N. THOMAS, F LIAR-"KATU,IlllIN'NESO'lA.V

VEHICLE Application filed April 24,

This invention relates to a vehicle heater, the general object of the invention being to provide a coil, with means for directing the exhaust gases therethrough when desired, a

casing surrounding the coil and having one end opening into the body of the vehicle, with a fan for driving air through the casing into the body of the vehicle, whereby the body of the vehicle will be heated without danger of any of the exhaust gases entering the same.

Another object of -the invention is to provide a baille member at that end of the casing which communicates with the interior of the bod for distributing the air evenlyinto the vehicle.

This invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing the invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings wherein like characters denote like or.

25 corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which Figure 1 is a sectional view through a portion of a vehicle, showing the invention in use.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the heater.

Figure 3 is a rear end view.

Figure 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Figure 2.

vFigure 5 is a sectional view through the valve casing in the exhaust pipe.

In these views, the numeral 1 indicates a casing, preferably of cylindrical shape with its rear end open and its forward end provided with openings 1', the casing being attached to the dash of the vehicle and said dash havin an opening therein which registers with t e opening in the end of the casing. A coil 2 is placed inthe casing, with its rear end 2 brought back through the coil and this end passes through the casing` and is connected with a flexible exhaust pipe 3. A exible pipe 4 is connected with the front end of the coil and the lower end of this pipe 4 is connected with a nipple 5 formed on a cou- HEATER 1929. Serial No. 357,776.

pling 6 which is inserted in the exhaust pipe 7 of the motor of the vehicle. A, valve 8 is arranged in the coupling and in one position will close the nipple 5 so that the exhaust gases are prevented from passing to the coil and in the other position, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 5, the valve will force all the gases to pass through'lthe nipple and pipe 4 into the coil and these gases will escape through the pipe 3. This valve can be controlled from the instrument board by means of a plunger 9 which is connected by a wire 10 to the arm of the valve. A spring 11 normally holds the valve in a position closing-the nipple 5.

An electric motor 12 is supported in the front end of the casing 1 and a fan 13 is connected with the shaft of the motor so that the heated air from the casing will be forced therefrom into the body of the vehicle. The motor may be connected with the battery4 or any other suitable source of supply and 'a switch 14 on the instrument board controls the circuit of said motor. A spiral deilector member 15, of conical shape, has its large end covering the opening in the dash, this member acting to evenly distribute the air from the casing into the body of the vehicle and preventing the air from being forced directly against an occupant.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided simple means for utilizin the exhaust gases for heating the interior o the vehicle Without danger of the exhaust gases soA entering the vehicle and the heater can be 55 rendered operative or inoperative by simply opening or closing the valve 8. Of course, the valve can be but partly opened, if desired, to permit but a portion of the exhaust gases to enter the coil.

It is thought from the foregoing vdescription that the advantages and novel features of the invention will be readily apparent.

It is to be understood that changes may be made in the construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, provided that such changes fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is 1. A device of the class described comprising a casing having one end entirely open and in direct communication with the interior of a vehicle, a coil in said casing, means for leading the exhaust gases from the engine of the vehicle through the coil, a valve for controlling such means, a fan at the other end of thev casing for forcing the air from the casing into the interior of the vehicle, and a deector at the outlet end of the casing for m evenly distributing the air therefrom into the vehicle, said deector being of spiral form and of conical shape.

2. A device of the class described comprising a casing having one end entirely open and in direct communication With the interior of a vehicle, a pipe coil in said casing for conducting exhaust gases and constituting a heating unit, a fan at the other end of the casing for forcing the heated air from the casing into the interior of the vehicle through the first mentioned end of the casing and an air distributing deflector comprising a conical spiral coil of Wire mounted at its major end in the said open end of the casing and its other coils extending into the interior of the vehicle.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

GEORGE N. THOMAS. 

